Combined elevator-door closure and switch



w. w. WEEKS I COMBINED ELEVATOR DOOR CLOSURE AND SWITCH June 9, 1925.

Filed 00% 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR ATTORNEYS v W. W. WEEKSCOMBINED ELEVATOR DOOR CLOSURE AND SWITCH June 9, 1925.

Filed Oct. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WM 4 4114 Va/ ATTORNEYSPatented June 9, 1925.

v UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WIIiLIAll/I WALLACE WEEKS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSICNOR TO ELEVATORSUPPLIES COMPANY, INC, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COMBINED ELEVATOR-DOOR CLOSURE AND SWITCH.

application filed October 25, 1923. Serial No. 670,719.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, WILLIAM VVALLAGE VVEEKS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing; at 366 Fourth Street, Brooklyn, New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in ,Combined Elevator-Door Closures and Switches, of which the following is a clear, it'ull,and exact description.

The present invention relates to an ele.

vator door operating mechanism and a controller circuit switch combinedin one unit in which the movement of a part of the mechanism serves tooperate the switch to open and close the elevator controller circuit.

The invention comprises a door check and switch combined in a singleunit, in which the switch is operated in air or other gaseous fluid. Thedevice is particularly adapted for use in connection with elevatoroperation in that the movements of the elevator door may be controlledby the door check, or power operated mechanism, and the controllercircuit of the elevator may be connected to the switch in such a mannerthat when the elevator door is operated the elevator controller circuitwill be broken, and thereby prevent movement of the elevator when thedoor is in open position. While the device, which will be hereinaftermore fully described, is particularly adapted in connection withelevator operation, it is useful also in connection with othermechanisms, and it is to be understood that it may be applied for theoperation of any other mechanism for which it is suitable. r Ihe-primary object of the present invention is to provide a switch andelevator door operating mechanism combined in a single plece ofapparatus in which the mechanism 1s power-operated and may be readilycontrolled, and in which the switch is so united therewith that it will0 erate to automatically open and close the e evator controller circuitin predetermined positions of the elevator door so as toreventgoperation of the elevator when the door is open.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch operable in airwhich is disosed in the'apparatus so that it may not be readilydisconnected or tampered with to modify the operation of the elevator.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a pneumatic operatingcylinder and controller circuit switch combined in one apparatu's foropening and closing elevator the cylinder to open the elevator door isdirected between the terminals and the con-v ducting member of theswitch as the conducting member breaks contact with the terminals.

. With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises thevarious features hereinafter described and more particularly defined inthe claims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which I Fig. 1 is a sectional view of thelower end of a pneumatic operating cylinder in which a switch operatingin air, is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2'2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4is anelevational view in section of an elevatorv door operating cylinderhaving switch terminals at diametrically opposite points instead of atone side, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and Fig.'-6'is a view showing the ordinary form of elevator doorsand showing togglelevers connected thereto in the ordinary manner and showing also theinvention mounted in operative relation to the toggle levers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,2 represents a cylindercasing having a piston 4 thereinwhich is operativelv vounected to aplunger rod 6 to which aplunger 8 operating in a plunger cylinder 10is-cou nected. To the piston 4 is connected :1 siceva I2 extendingupwardly through the ca 01' upper cylinder head 14 and is attacheexternallyto theplungerrod 6 by a suitable connection, suchas a lock nut3. Attached to the piston 4 is a leather washer 5 which is held inposition against the under surface of the piston by means of a followerand expander 7. By this means. the leather washer is pressed outwardlyagainst the walls of the cylinder casing 2, attaining a close-fittingcontact therewith.

By means of the plunger rod and sleeve connection above described, thepiston and parts attached thereto may be readily withdrawn from thecylinder for adjustment or replacement of parts, by first disconnectingthe plunger rod 6 from the toggle levers or other mechanism to which itis attached, and then disconnecting the sleeve 12 from the plunger rod 6by unscrewing the lock nut 23. In the portion of the cylinder betweenthe piston -l and the head 14: is placed a compression spring by meansof which the piston may be returned after operation thereof and themechanism to which it is connected has been operated,

A plunger cylinder is preferably connected to the cylinder casing 2 bymeans of a casing 16 which may be attached to the cylinder casing 2- byscrew-threaded connections 18 or other suitable connecting means. Thecasing 16 is preferably connected to the mid-portion of the cylinder 10so as to be integral therewith, and forming between the external wall ofthe cylinder 10 and the interior of the casing 16, a reservoir 20. Inthe walls of the cylinder casing 10, I provide oil passages 22. 2% bymeans of which the movements of the plunger in the cylinder and theparts attached thereto may be suitably regulated. In order to controlthe passage of oil through the passageways and the movements of theplunger, regulating screws in the passageways as 26 are provided, whichare. adjusted so as to attain any desired amount of cushioning action.

In the mid-portion of the cylinder 10 is an enlarged portion 28 toenable oil to pass by the plunger in this portion of the cylinder duringits upward or downward move- -ment. The lower port on of the reservoircommunicates with the enlarged portion 28 by means of a passageway 30 soas to enable oil to pass from one chamber to the other, whereby thechamber 20 operates as a receiving and a supply reservoir for oil duringthe movements of the plunger in the plunger cylinder.

The upper portion of the reservoir 20 is closed by means of a perforateddiaphragm 32 which serves to prevent oil from splashing upwardly fromthe reservoir into the cylinder casing 2. The diaphragm is held inposition in a recess in the walls of the easing 16 by means of astufiing box 3a which is screw-threaded or otherwise suitably held inposition in the walls of the cylinder 10.

Above the diaphragm 32 and preferably passing through the walls of thecasing 16, I provide two switch terminals 36, 38 which are suitablyinsulated from the walls by means of bakelite or other non-conductingmaterial. To these terminals may be connected the lead wires i0, 42 ofthe elevator controller circuit. These are preferably attached by meansof nuts or other suitable connections in a casing or box 46 attached ormade integral with the casing 16, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2-. The leads40, -12 may pass out of the terminal box through a suitable conduit 44,and a cover 48 is provided which may be screwed or locked into positionso as to prevent tampering with or disconnecting the leads passing tothe switch terminals.

In order to provide means for opening and closing a circuit through theterminals 36, 38, with the movements of the elevator door or otherdevice to which the apparatus is connected, a conducting member 50 isprovided which may be of copper or other suitable conducting materialand adapted to be raised and lowered out of and into contact with theterminals to open and close the circuit therethrough. The conducting member 50 is preferably attached to the piston t by a means which willmaintain the conducting member in pressure contact with the terminals,and when raised out of position therewith will permit a limited movementof the piston without breaking the circuit through the terminals. Forthis purpose I preferably employ an insulating member such as an annularring 52 of suitable nonconducting material, as. for instance, bakelite.In order to support the conducting member 50 thereby, I employ two setscrews 54, 56 rigidly attached thereto and arranged to be held inrecesses 58, 60 in the insulating member 52. The heads of the set screws5&,

ill)

56 are supported by means of projecting parts in the recesses 58, 60,and between the conducting member 50 and the projecting walls of therecesses, I provide suitable compression springs 62, 64 by means ofwhich the conducting member 50 may be forced against the terminals 36.38 when the switch is closed. By this means also the piston is enabledto move upwardly a predetermined distance, depending upon the length ofthe set screws 54, 56, so that the circuit through the switch is brokenonly after a predetermined movement of the elevator door. It ispreferable in most cases to have the circuit through the switch brokenonly after the elevator door has opened to the extent of one-half inchor more, but obviously the point of opening may be adjusted orcontrolled by the means above described.

In order to operate the mechanism by means of air pressure or otherpressure fluid,

a pipe 66 is provided which may be attached to the casing 16 by asuitable connection 68. The pipe 66 may pass through the reservoir 20and through an opening in the diaphragm separate casings or other meansmay be em-.

32 and preferably extends upwardly between the terminals 36, 38 to aheight substantially that of the conducting member 50. In the sides ofthe pipe I provide two openings 70, 72 which are substantially in linewith the points of contact of the terminals with the conductingmember,50. In the pipe 66, to admit air or other pressure fluid into the deviceto operate the piston and mechanism attached thereto, the piston movesupwardly bringing the conducting member 50 out of contact with theterminals 36, 38, and simultaneously the air under a high pressure offrom 50 to lbs. per square inch is blown across the terminals anddecreases the arcing during the opening of a' circuit.

Air may be admitted at one or more points in the apparatus, but I preferto admit the operating fluid only at the points indicated in Figs. 2 and3, whereby the air is completely utilized in decreasing the arcing orsparking at the switch terminals. In order that the conducting member 50may rest upon three points so as to attain uniform seating, a support 74of suitable insulating material may be employed, as shown in thedrawings, which may be attached to the diaphragm 32 or other suitablesupport in the apparatus.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the preferred form of the' device in which theswitch terminals are brought out of the casing at one point so that theymay be enclosed in a suitable casing or other closure to preventtampering with the elevator control circuit switch. In Fig. 4: I haveshown a modification in which the terminals ass outwardly from thecasing at diametrically opposite points thereof.

It is to be understood that in this form ployed for suitably preventingdisconnecting or tampering with the leads passing to the switchterminals;

In Fig. 6, the invention is shown as applied in connection with IeVatordoor operation, the elevator doors 80 and 82 being shown mounted on anoverhead track 84 and having connected therewith the toggle levers 86which may have a handle 88 connected thereto so that it may be operatedby hand, if desired. The operating device 90 embodying applicantsinvention may be mounted in any desired manner such as by connecting itto a bracket 92 attached to the door frame, for example, and byconnecting the plunger rod 6 to a lug 94 integral with or attached to anarm of the toggleclevers. The device may be attached in any otherdesired manner, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art and maybeconnected to any other mechanism or device to which it 18 to be appliedby any suitable means or in a manner similar to that for connecting itto toggle levers, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

It is to be understood that various changes and modifications may bemade in the device which has been describedwithout departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, a door check, means foroperatively connecting said check to a door, and an electric switchwithin said door check operating in air and serving to open and close acircuit with the movements of said door.

2. In a device of the class described, a pneumatically-operated doorcheck, means for operatively connecting said check to a door, and anelectric switch within the said door check for opening and closing acircuit with the movements of said door.

3. Ina device of the class described, a pneumatically-operated doorcheck, means for operatively connecting said check to a door, dampeningmeans in said check, and an electric switch operating in air within thesaid door check for opening and closing a circuit with the movements ofsaid door.

4. In a device of the class described, a door check, means foroperatively connecting said check to an elevator door, means foradmitting fluid pressure to said check to operate said door, an electricswitch Within said check adapted to be connected in'the elevatorcontroller circuit, and means for operatively connecting said switch tosaid door, to open and close the circuit through said switch with theopening and closing movements of said door.

5, In a device of the class described, a pneumatically-operated doorcheck, means for operatively connecting said check to an elevator door.means in said check for cushioning the movements of said door, anelectric switch in said door check, and means for directing a current ofair across the switch terminals during breaking of the cir-' cuit.therethrough whereby arcing during the breaking of, a circuit will beminimized.

6. In a device of the class described; a door check, means foroperatively connecting said check to an elevator door. means foradmitting fluid pressure to said check to operate said door, an electricswitch within said check adapted to be connected in the elevatorcontroller circuit, and means for directing said fluid on to the saidswitch during the breaking of a circuit therethrough.

7. In a device of the class described, a door check, means foroperatively connecting said check to .an elevator door,cushion ing meansin said check adapted to cushion the movements of said elevator door,means for admitting air to said check to operate said elevator door, anelectric switch within said check having stationary terminals and amovable conducting member, and means for operatively connecting saidmember to said elevator door whereby a circuit through said terminals,will be opened and closed with the opening and closing movements of saidelevator door.

8. In a device of the class described, a door check, means foroperatively connecting said check to an elevator door, cushioning meansin said check adapted to cushion the movements of said elevator door.means for admitting air to said check to operate said elevator door. anelectric switch within said check having stationary terminals and amovable conducting member. means for operatively connecting said memberto said elevator door whereby a circuit through the said terminals willbe opened and closed with the opening and closing movements of saidelevator door. and means for directin said air during admission thereofacross said terminals when the circuit through said terminals is opened.

9. In an elevator door operating mechanism adapted to be operativelyconnected to the toggle levers of an elevator door, a

- casing. a piston in said casing, a plunger cylinder connected to saidcasing. a plunger in said plunger cylinder, means for admitting pressurefluid to operate said piston. sprin means in said casing for returningsaid elevator door to its closed position after opening movementthereof, and an electric switch in said casing comprising switchterminals and a movable contact member. said contact member beingadapted to operate with the movements of said elevator door to open andclose a circuit through said switch.

10. In a power operated door opening and closing mechanism, a casing,cushioning means in the casing comprising a plunger and plungercylinder, a passageway in the walls of said plunger cylinder. means forregulating the passage of oil through said passageway from one portionof said cylinder to another, whereby the movements of said plunger maybe cushioned or checked during predetermined portions of the stroke ofsaid plunger, an electric switch in said casing operating in air, thesaid switch being adapted to be connected to an elevator controllercircuit, means for opening and closing the circuit through said switchwith movements of a door, and means whereby the circuit through saidswitch will be opened after a predetermined limited movement of saiddoor.

11. In a device of the class described. a casing, a piston in saidcasing, means for connecting one of said parts to a mechanism to beoperated, a plunger cylinder connected to said casing, a plunger in saidplunger cylinder, a plunger rod connected to said plunger and saidpiston, spring means in said casing for returning said plunger andpiston after movement thereof whereby said mechanism is operated, anelectric switch operating in air within said casing comprising switchterminals and a conducting member adapted to be moved in and out ofcontact with said terminals, whereby a circuit through said terminalsmay be opened and closed, means for admitting air into said casing tooperate said piston and said mechanism, means for operatively connectingsaid conducting member to said piston whereby the opening and closingmovements of said switch is made dependent upon the movement of saidmechanism, and means for directing said air across said switch terminalsduring the opening movement of said switch.

12. In a device of the class described, a power operated door check,dampening means in said check, an electric switch operating in airwithin said check comprising switch terminals and a movable conductingmember, means for operatively connecting said movable conducting memberto said dampening means, whereby a limited movement of said dampeningmeans may take place without opening the circuit through said switch.

13. In a device of the class described, a door check, means foroperatively connectingsaid check to the toggle levers of an elevatordoor, cushioning means in said check comprising a plunger operating in aplunger cylinder, means for maintaining oil in said cylinder to cushionthe movements of said plunger and said mechanism, a piston in saidcheck, spring means connected to said piston for returning said door toclosed position after said door is opened, switch terminals in saidcasing adapted to be operatively connected to the controller circuit ofan elevator, a conducting member adapted to open and close a circuitthrough said terminals, means for yieldably supporting said conductingmember, said means comprising an insulating member, and spring means forholding said conducting member in pressure contact with said terminals,when said elevator door is in closed position, a perforated diaphragmbetween said plunger cylinder and said switch to prevent passage of oilto said switch, and means for directing air under pressure across saidswitch terminals to cause operation of said piston and simultaneously todecrease the arcing during the opening movement of said switch.

14.-An elevator door operating mechanism comprising a power cylinder,means for operatively connecting said cylinder to an elevator door,means for cushioning the movements of said door, an electric switch.

in said cylinder adapted to be connected to an elevator controllercircuit, said switch having stationary terminals and a movableconducting member, means for operatively 5 connecting said conductingmember to said door whereby the circuit through said switch will beopened with a predetermined opening movement of said door, and means forprotecting said terminals to prevent unauthorized interference with theoperation of said switch.

Signed at New York, N. Y. this 23rd day of October 1923.

WILLIAM WALLACE WEEKS.

